Page 104 of Look at Her and Die

“You’re ruining a relationship,” she sneered, still aiming her words at me, yet addressing Searcy.

It was weird, even for her.

“I don’t feel like I am,” Searcy said. “Honey, am I ruining our relationship?”

“You know that’s not what I mean,” my mother sneered.

“Listen,” Harrington interjected. “She’s rich as fuck now, Mom. She’s not out to steal Posy’s imaginary money. Honestly, this is getting really old. Also, Elisha and I are getting married.”

That shocked the shit out of me.

“What?” My mother couldn’t have reached a higher octave.

“We started talking last month, and well, we’re not interested in waiting. We’re getting married over Christmas break in Vail,” Harrington said. “Also, why are you inviting Searcy’s mother here? She’s suing Searcy because Searcy isn’t sharing that money. Which I told her not to do. That’s directly contradicting my recommendation.” He stood up and walked to Elisha.

Quickly, he slammed his mouth down on hers, and I finally understood why she’d stopped pursuing me over the last few weeks. She had a new target.

Or maybe she wasn’t actually targeting him. Maybe they were actually in love.

I didn’t find it all that weird, either, because Harrington and Elisha spent more time together than Elisha and I had.

“So what’s the plan?” I asked. “Can we go now?”

Elisha pulled back with a flush to her face and replied, “We plan on it.”

Searcy looked at her mother. “Mom, you won’t win, then you’ll just be stuck with a lawyer bill. Trust me when I say, don’t pursue this.”

Searcy grabbed my hand, and I guided us out, Harrington and Elisha close on our heels.

I walked right up to my bike, and my brother walked to his Jag.

I snatched Searcy’s helmet off the seat and deposited it on her head.

When I grabbed my own, I looked up to see Harrington looking at me over his car, which he’d just helped Elisa into.

“I should be thanking you for not giving in,” he said.

I shrugged. “We didn’t have anything in common.”

“I won’t thank you, though, because you hurt her.” He paused. “And I’m not sure how to feel about that because I’m both mad as hell, and happy as fuck.”

I threw my leg over my bike and reached for Searcy’s hand. “Hop on, darlin’.”

She did, flashing me her white lace panties as she did.

She was never wearing a dress on the back of my bike again.

I liked seeing all that beautiful skin exposed, but the thought of it getting fucked up because I didn’t have her legs protected sent chills down my spine.

“Have a good one, Harrington!” Searcy waved.

I grinned and started the bike up, not bothering to wait for his reply.

Twenty-Eight

Every day I try to figure out where a bruise came from. It’s like bruise clues.

—Text from Scottie to Posy

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